Elsinore

by Bridget Weldon

Very little ever happens in the small town of Elsinore, New York...until the arrival of the wealthy Patel family. When a national tragedy unsettles the community, a string of violence quickly leads to a mysterious series of deaths.

Fifteen years later, a graduate student battling post-traumatic stress disorder is forced to revisit the events, leading her to reveal the truth about the fate of a young girl named Ophelia.

302 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 12, 2025

Reviews

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elsinore is a poignant story that weaves the social, cultural, and emotional challenges facing young adults (and all of us) today. When graduate student Ophelia is forced to accept her place in the tragic history of her childhood hometown, she must face long cloistered memories. It is only by returning to her home that she discovers the staying power of love, family, and friendship. Ophelia sheds the tragedy that accompanies her namesake and embraces the hopeful possibilities of her future.

I loved this book. It’s an excellent choice for young adults. But given the popularity of Ophelia in current times, anyone will enjoy this especially creative modern direction for one of our favorite characters.

[Heather Heins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I decided to read this because my friend wrote it, and I wanted to support her. I’m proud to say that it is a wonderful read.
Elsinore is a modern take on Ophelia’s story, with its own unique, modern twists thrown in to keep it interesting. This story is so relatable, both to anyone who grew up in the post 9/11 era and to those who are witnessing the division going on around us now. It has an important message to convey and keeps the reader in suspense until the end (even those who are familiar with Hamlet!).

[Knight Mayor · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a pretty good read. I enjoyed the story till the end. The pacing is decent. It's a modern retelling of Hamlet but with a delightful twist. My only gripe is that the ebook is poorly structured. Every new chapter begins on the same page where the last one ends. Plus, there are couple of spelling mistakes too. That's the only reason why I'm giving this book 4 stars.
Minus one star for poor structuring and spelling mistakes.
Other than that, it's a pretty good read. Highly recommended.

[S.J. Kadile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Atmospheric, haunting, and heartfelt

Reading Elsinore by Bridget Weldon wrapped me in a world of mystery and emotion. I was carried along by its quiet power, felt the longing in the characters’ hearts, and stared in awe at how their paths intertwined. It left me thinking long after the last page.

A must read!!!

[Heather Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elsinore smartly draws upon the upside-down purgatory in which Hamlet finds himself to explore post 9/11 confusion and heartbreak. By probing the anxieties that defeated Shakespeare’s Ophelia, Weldon’s heroine celebrates her strength and resilience in a world that threatens to drown us in despair. Sensitively and insightfully told, the story is both haunting and uplifting - a worthwhile read!